Rivalry on the Waterfront as 2 Cities Vie to Welcome a TV Tower

The abandoned Army base here along the mouth of the Hudson River looks like just another weed-strewn former military installation.

But now, Mayor Joseph V. Doria Jr. has a new plan to revive the 450-acre peninsula, formerly called the Military Ocean Terminal Bayonne: building a $200 million, 2,000-foot television tower that would replace the giant antenna mast that topped the World Trade Center. It would also be the world's tallest free-standing structure, an instant tourist attraction.

That plan has set off a heated competition for economic development and bragging rights between Bayonne, a gritty industrial town trying to remake itself, and Jersey City, whose leaders want their city to be the site for the tower, which New York officials have made clear they do not want. Dueling proposals have restarted a feud between Jersey City and Bayonne;in 2000 they fought over which city would become the berth for the battleship New Jersey. (In the end, government officials sent the ship to Camden.)

Having the largest anything may not mean that much to residents of New York City, the home to many greatest, biggest, longest and widest things. But in addition to Jersey City and Bayonne, several local governments in New Jersey are stumbling over themselves to get a meeting with television executives who have been seeking a site for a replacement antenna since last Sept. 11.

''The mayor has had very preliminary conversations recently with representatives of the broadcasters,'' said Joseph E. Ryan, a spokesman for Mr. Doria. ''We understand that other towns have had separate preliminary discussions, but it's really too early to tell where this is going.''

After the Sept. 11 attack, millions of mostly poor and elderly television viewers lost several channels when the broadcast antenna atop the World Trade Center's north tower was destroyed. (The antenna added about 360 feet to the tower, extending the building to more than 1,700 feet.)

Broadcast executives initially proposed building a new antenna tower on Governors Island after the Bush administration agreed to turn the island, a former Coast Guard base, over to New York. But Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg rejected the idea, saying a tower would not fit into his vision for the island and questioning the need for a new broadcast antenna because of the proliferation of satellite and cable television.

Regardless of the need, the Federal Communications Commission is demanding that New York broadcasters find a permanent location for an antenna. The Empire State Building had served in recent months as a temporary location for antennas, but the television broadcasters have said that it is not tall enough or strong enough to be the permanent home.

After Mr. Bloomberg rejected the Governors Island proposal, the stations turned to officials in New Jersey and to a private developer in the Queens West development district in Hunters Point. But the Bloomberg administration objected to the location, in Long Island City. One concern was that the tower would be across the East River from Sutton Place, and that Manhattan residents would object to the broadcast tower.

Edward Grebow, the president of the Metropolitan Television Alliance, which represents the broadcasters trying to build the tower, said that Gov. James E. McGreevey of New Jersey and his aides have ''been terrific,'' but that ''while a number of municipalities in New Jersey are interested in it, we continue to be surprised that New York City shows no interest in having this tower in the city, even though it is a very large construction project.''

An error has occurred. Please try again later.

You are already subscribed to this email.

Mr. Grebow also said that the broadcasters have agreed not to seek any breaks on property taxes, adding that the ''active sites that we are talking about are all in New Jersey.''

Officials in Jersey City, just a short PATH train ride across the Hudson River from Lower Manhattan, have already begun rezoning two locations near the Liberty Science Center so a tower could be built in either place. If the tower were to be built at one of those locations, it would probably have a educational museum at its base and weather instruments at the top, officials said.

Aides to Mr. McGreevey, who toured several sites with Metropolitan Television Alliance officials last Wednesday, said the governor is in favor of having the tower become a part of the memorial park for Sept. 11 victims planned for the Military Ocean Terminal Bayonne.

Renamed the Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor this year, the terminal was supposed to have become home to a community of waterfront parks, restaurants and retail stores, along with amenities like an amphitheater and a marina, as well as luxury apartments with views of Manhattan. Instead, it includes government agencies, a car pound, housing for Continental Airlines flight crews, and was the set for the HBO drama ''Oz.'' Parts of the movie ''A Beautiful Mind'' were also filmed there.

Discussing Bayonne's bid to become the site for a new antenna, one economic development official said, ''Frankly, I am very surprised to hear that Jersey City is even in the running.''

A Jersey City politician responded, ''We have more going on and a better plan and can get it done faster.''

Mayor Glenn D. Cunningham of Jersey City has been credited with attracting financial services and other companies across the river from New York. But he has come under criticism from other Hudson County politicians over economic development and other issues. A spokesman for Mr. Cunningham, Brian Dorf, did not return a telephone call seeking comment.

Mr. Grebow, of the television alliance, said that he would like to see construction on a broadcast tower begin as early as next winter. While a design has not been chosen, he estimated it would take 24 months to complete the tower once construction begins.

In explaining how it was quite likely the tower would end up in New Jersey, Mr. Grebow said, ''Most of us involved in this project are lifelong New Yorkers, and as happy as we are about New Jersey, we are surprised and disappointed as well about New York's lack of interest.''